Seared & Roasted Cauliflower Steak

March 8, 2012By Jess

This is our 3rd and final recipe in the Cauliflower Ingredient Spotlight series. In this last recipe, we wanted to showcase the vegetable in its purest form using one of our favorite cooking formulas the Sear and Roast and show you how meaty cauliflower can be, even on its own.

Cauliflower steak? Maybe you think I’m trying to pull one over on you, but I’m not. Yes, on the surface there really isn’t anything steak like about cauliflower. For one, it’s typically albino. Albino ingredients typically don’t scream bloody juiciness. Yet, when you prepare this ingredient like a steak – adding a little char, leaving the thick stems in tact – it has a chameleon-like way of morphing into something steak-like. Don’t get me wrong – you’ll never confuse it for a bone-in rib-eye in a blind taste test, but you also probably won’t guess cauliflower upon first bite. For those trying to reduce their meat-intake, consider this a substitute one out of ever three times you’re craving a steak. You might be surprised to see your cravings fulfilled.

Seared & Roasted Cauliflower Steak

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 head of cauliflower

1 onion, caramelized; how-to here

Olive oil

Salt & pepper

Instructions

Tools

Cast-iron skillet

Prep (can be done up to 5 days ahead)

Cauliflower: Rinse; Remove leafier stems at the bottom of the cauliflower; Slice the cauliflower vertically into 4 to 6 half-inch to three-quarter-inch steaks

Onion: Onion can be sliced and caramelized

Place everything in separate air-tight containers / bags and refrigerate

Make

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Prep cauliflower (directions above) if you haven’t already done so

Caramelize onions (directions here) if you haven’t already done so

While onions are caramelizing, place cast iron skillet over medium-high heat

Substitutes and supplements [br]What do you like with your steaks? Bearnaise? Chimichurri? Mustard aioli? Smother your cauliflower in some of it [br]Consider other seasonings like smoked paprika or even some curry powder (who wouldn’t love an aloo gobi steak, right?) [br]Use a variety of colored cauliflower to add some vibrancy